The Hampton Classic Horse Show was a tremendous success once again, despite a delayed start due toHurricane Irene.  Celebrities were on hand for this iconic end-of-summer event along with world-class equestrian competition, renowned shopping opportunities, family entertainment and a record-setting performance by two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward.

On Friday, August 26, the decision was made to take down 18 tents with 1600 stalls as well as 40 other large tents housing the chalets, VIP seating, and boutiques plus dozens of other small tents.

The Hampton Classic managed to keep almost its entire competition schedule, albeit compressed from eight days into five.  The show featured competition at every level from young children in the leadline division to Olympic veterans in the horse show’s main attraction, the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup™ Qualifier, which two-time Olympic team Gold Medalist McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, won for the third consecutive year and record sixth time overall.

The first class in the Grand Prix ring for the revised Opening Day on Wednesday was the Wölffer Estate 1.40m Open Jumper class.  Originally consisting of more than 100 competitors, the class was split with Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, winning Section A on Marengo, owned by The Dobbs Group, and Richie Moloney of Wellington, FL, prevailing in section B on Quiloa, owned by Equinimity, LLC.  Later in the afternoon, Aaron Vale of Morriston, FL, flew over the course to win the Pilatus 1.45m Open Jumper the class on Tibor, owned by Bonnie Smith.

On Thursday, McLain Ward found the route to victory on Oh d’ Eole in the $15,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman 1.45m Open Jumper class, the first of four that he won in the grand prix ring.  Paulena Johnson of Wellington, FL, won the $5,000 Newsday Amateur Owner Jumper (1.40m) class on Quastor Van De Donkhoeve, owned by Paulexi, LLC

Also on Thursday, Samantha Schaefer, 18, of Westminster, MD, won the Sam Edelman Equitation Championship for the second consecutive year with a practically perfect final round riding Pioneer, owned by Heritage Farm, receiving a score of 98 out of 100 points in the final round and an overall score of 193 points.

McLain Ward also won the $50,000 Spy Coast Farm Grand Prix Qualifier Ward and Antares F, owned by Grant Road Partners, LLC captured Friday’s featured event by less than 1/10th of a second over Ashlee Bond of Hidden Hills, CA.  On Friday morning, Frances Land of Alpharetta, GA, won the $10,000 Sotheby’s International Realty Welcome Stake riding Merlin and Darragh Kenny of Ireland won the $15,000 Autism Speaks (1.40m) Speed Derby, sponsored by The Geier Group, riding Obelix, owned by Missy Clark and North Run.

On Saturday, Victoria Colvin, 13, of Loxahatchee, FL, took top honors on Inclusive, owned by Scott Stewart, in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.  McLain Ward dominated the $30,000 Nicolock Open Jumper Challenge finishing first, third, and fourth. Ward won the Challenge on Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve, owned by Louisburg Farm.

The final day at the Hampton Class was exciting as all six rings featured competition due to the revised schedule.  This was great news for the riders in the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities (LIHSSRD) who were able to compete alongside the best horses and riders in the nation for the first time.  Normally the event takes place on Monday.

In the main hunter ring, Victoria Colvin finished first and second in the $10,000 Hermès Hunter Classic with Way Cool, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, winning and Sanzibar, owned by Karen Long Dwight and Barbara Ridder Irwin, coming in second.  In the grand prix ring, Philip Richter of Bedford, NY, won the $25,000 Carolex Show Jumping Derby riding Ray Ray, owned by Coker Farm.  Jeffery Welles of North Salem, NY, took top honors with Laracon, owned by Amanda Gunthel, in the Brown Harris Stevens Young Jumper Championship Finals for 7 & 8-Year-Olds.

The highlight of the show was McLain Ward making history yet again with another win in the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup Qualifier.  Riding Antares F, Ward tied his own record winning a grand prix at the Classic on three consecutive days.  He also tied Margie Engle’s record by winning the featured Grand Prix at the Classic for three consecutive years and added to his own record by winning the Classic’s featured Grand Prix six times, twice as many as anyone else.

In addition to its world-class equestrian competition, the Hampton Classic featured family fun with demonstrations, pony rides, and a petting zoo as part of Cablevision’s Kids’ Day.   All week long the Boutiques Garden offered everything from custom clothing to an auto display tent showcasing vehicles by Jaguar and Land Rover.

The Hampton Classic is always packed with celebrity sightings throughout the week.  Those attending this year included Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Diana Taylor, Rudy Giuliani, Jerry Seinfeld, Rosanna Scotto, Lou Dobbs, Jill Rappaport, James Lipton, David Yurman, Betty Knight Scripps, Matt Lauer, and LA Reid.

A new program was developed following the cancellation of the Classic’s ASPCA Adoption Day due to Hurricane Irene. The Classic initiated its 1st Virtual Adoption Month presented in partnership with the ASPCA and thanks to Virtual Celebration. Please visit the www.virtualcelebration.com/adopt website page, or go to the link on the Hampton Classic website, to peruse the extensive selection of horses, dogs, and cats waiting for new homes as part of the program.

Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501.c.3 charitable corporation.  It benefits Southampton Hospital and other charities. For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177.